Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green, was arrested earlier in connection with an investigation into a series of leaks from the Home Office. He was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office," the Metropolitan Police said. He has not been charged but is still being questioned by police. The Tories say he denies any wrongdoing. It is believed to be connected to the arrest of a man suspected of being a Home Office whistleblower.
He was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office," the Metropolitan Police said.
He has not been charged but is still being questioned by police. The Tories say he denies any wrongdoing.
It is believed to be connected to the arrest of a man suspected of being a Home Office whistleblower.
Arresting a politician for passing on leaked information in the public interest is very dubious indeed, and it makes you wonder what the hell the police were thinking.
Senior Tory sources said the arrest was linked to a string of embarrassing revelations about the Home Office which have emerged in the press in recent months and came 10 days after the arrest of a "whistleblower". It is understood that as many as nine counter-terrorism officers were involved in the operation, which provoked fury among the Conservative high command. A senior Tory source said the party's leader David Cameron was "supportive and is angry about the way Damian Green has been treated" after he learnt about the arrest of his senior frontbencher. One source described the arrest as "Stalinesque". He said: "It's quite clear that this must have been cleared at the very top of government." Downing Street said Gordon Brown had been informed of the police operation after Mr Green's arrest. A spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has been informed about it. It was the first he had heard about it. He did not have any knowledge until the police had acted. It's a matter for the police." The allegations are understood to centre on four newspaper reports which have caused considerable embarrassment to ministers in recent months. They include: the publication of a Whips' Office memo detailing Labour MPs expected to vote against plans to detain terror suspects for 42 days without charge; a report in November last year that the Home Office was aware the Security Industry Authority had granted licences to 5,000 illegal workers; a report in February that an illegal immigrant was employed as a cleaner in the Home Office; and a letter from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to the Prime Minister warning that recession could lead to a rise in violent crime.
Senior Tory sources said the arrest was linked to a string of embarrassing revelations about the Home Office which have emerged in the press in recent months and came 10 days after the arrest of a "whistleblower".
It is understood that as many as nine counter-terrorism officers were involved in the operation, which provoked fury among the Conservative high command.
A senior Tory source said the party's leader David Cameron was "supportive and is angry about the way Damian Green has been treated" after he learnt about the arrest of his senior frontbencher.
One source described the arrest as "Stalinesque". He said: "It's quite clear that this must have been cleared at the very top of government."
Downing Street said Gordon Brown had been informed of the police operation after Mr Green's arrest.
A spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has been informed about it. It was the first he had heard about it. He did not have any knowledge until the police had acted. It's a matter for the police."
The allegations are understood to centre on four newspaper reports which have caused considerable embarrassment to ministers in recent months.
They include: the publication of a Whips' Office memo detailing Labour MPs expected to vote against plans to detain terror suspects for 42 days without charge; a report in November last year that the Home Office was aware the Security Industry Authority had granted licences to 5,000 illegal workers; a report in February that an illegal immigrant was employed as a cleaner in the Home Office; and a letter from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to the Prime Minister warning that recession could lead to a rise in violent crime.
It is understood that as many as nine counter-terrorism officers were involved in the operation
We're all terrorists now.™
For any reason. In any way. Using any methods.
I suppose if you're an authoritarian it makes perfect sense.
